HELP: Valve gap measuring advice

[robc]

Afternoon All,
I'm following Steptoe's guide for adjusting the valves but I think I've done something wrong.

Here's what I've done:

- Left Cylinder
- Set engine to TDC. OT mark on flywheel is visible in the inspection hole.
- The valves are closed - i.e. they are sticking out as far as they want to go and the springs are fully extended.
- I adjusted the rocker arm gaps. Only a very small adjustment was required.
- The valve gaps were about 2mm. I adjusted them to spec.

- Right cylinder
- Set the engine to TDC again. OT mark on flywheel is visible
- The valves are closed.
- Minor adjustment to rocker arm was required.
- Valve gaps were again about 2mm.
- On adjusting the first valve the cup(don't know it's proper name) came away from the valve and the valve didn't move.

I'm now thinking I've done something wrong.

There is a photo attached showing the gap I measured and the cup that came away from the valve.

I need to know the following:

1) Did I measure the correct gap?
2) Should that cup be able to come away from the valve?
3) As the valve didn't move is the engine not at TDC?
4) Is the valve just a bit stuck and do I just need to pull it out?

As usual, all help is appreciated.

As you can tell this is the first time I've ever attempted this job on any engine.

The below photo is of the right hand cylinder.


Regards

Rob C

 

[MattW]

You are measuring the wrong gap - stop what you're doing.

First, be sure that the cylinder you're working on is at TDC compression (i.e. valves completely closed - you should be able to waggle the inlet and exhaust rocker arms up and down and 'feel' the valve clearance). It sounds like you've got this covered but given what you've just done this probably won't be possible now. Only one side at a time will be at TDC compression - the other side will be at TDC exhaust and the exhaust valves will be slightly open.

The gap you want to measure is between the top of the valve stem and the bottom of the 'cup' - it should come away slightly from the valve - that's the clearance - you might find the cup is 'stuck' to the valve stem by the oil that it is coated with. Pull it away from the valve with your fingers and insert the feeler gauge between the valve stem and cup.

 

[cookie]

as said in previous post: make sure you do the measurement and adjustment at TDC on the compression stroke.


and the gaps should not be 2mm

 

[robc]

Cheers Matt.

Of all of the pictures, guides and video's I've seen I could not see the correct place to measure on any of them. That's why I took my own photo.

Live and learn.

So decision time. Do I sit in the garage tonight with a beer and get this sorted once and for all or do I go to the gym and work on fixing my back?

Regards

Rob C

 

[MattW]

Cheers Matt.

Of all of the pictures, guides and video's I've seen I could not see the correct place to measure on any of them. That's why I took my own photo.

Live and learn.

So decision time. Do I sit in the garage tonight with a beer and get this sorted once and for all or do I go to the gym and work on fixing my back?

Regards

Rob C

Well you can't use your bike until you've sorted it - it sounds like you've closed the valve clearances completely - you'll feck it up (assuming you get it to start at all).

 

[robc]

One more question:

I'm assuming I slide the feeler gauge between the valve and the cup? This way I'd be effectively putting a lid on the cup and the valve should be resting against the other side of the gauge.

Does that make sense?

Regards

Rob

 

[MattW]

One more question:

I'm assuming I slide the feeler gauge between the valve and the cup? This way I'd be effectively putting a lid on the cup and the valve should be resting against the other side of the gauge.

Does that make sense?

Regards

Rob

The top of the valve stem is flat and the face of the 'cup' which contacts the valve stem is flat - measure this gap.

Edit: Sometimes, only a picture will do - the 'cup' is actually a little ball joint affair which forms part of the adjusting screw. Apologies for my hasty sketch

 

[robc]

Splendid.

I've been putting this job off for 35,000 miles so maybe I'll skip the gym tonight.

Regards

Rob C

 

[khpossum]

nuked

 

[robc]

Cheers Matt. The picture says it all.

All is understood now.


Regards

Rob C

 

[Larry12345]

Perfect picture! Really great stuff.

 

[Pekkavee]

Afternoon All,
I'm following Steptoe's guide for adjusting the valves but I think I've done something wrong. Regards

Rob C

How the hell did you find any gap where you say you measured.

Pekka

 

[Padowan]

How the hell did you find any gap where you say you measured.

Pekka

I initially had the same thought, but I think he was measuring the gap between the top of the cup and the rocker, a gap that will not change throughout the cycle.

 

[Pekkavee]

I initially had the same thought, but I think he was measuring the gap between the top of the cup and the rocker, a gap that will not change throughout the cycle.

So must it be.

Pekka

 

[Greg Masters]

You shouldn't be doing this job at all. It's clearly beyond your competence level!

Put the bike back togeher and take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Greg

 

[Uncle Crumpet]

You shouldn't be doing this job at all. It's clearly beyond your competence level!

Put the bike back togeher and take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Greg

if he doesnt know what he's doing he wont be able to put it back together, must have been great to be born and able to do everything, can you fly and catch a bullet?

 

[Greg Masters]

if he doesnt know what he's doing he wont be able to put it back together, must have been great to be born and able to do everything, can you fly and catch a bullet?

I can't sew a button - so I don't try to.

 

[Pixter]

if he doesnt know what he's doing he wont be able to put it back together, must have been great to be born and able to do everything, can you fly and catch a bullet?

 

[Steptoe]

if he doesnt know what he's doing he wont be able to put it back together,

Well he must have managed ok or is still struggling in silence as the original post was nearly two years ago.......

 

[Greg Masters]

Well he must have managed ok or is still struggling in silence as the original post was nearly two years ago.......